Circuit controller



[k.24,1940. R.B HUNTER cRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed June 22, 1939 Patented Dec.` 24, 1.940

PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Richard B. Hunter, Shorewood, Wis., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1939, Serial No. 280,448

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in systems of circuit control.

The invention relates more particularly to illumination control systems and primarily to systems comprising a plurality of lamp circuits which provide for presetting a plurality of intensities of illumination of each circuit and effecting transition from'one preset intensity to another at selective rates which may differ from each other for different circuits.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple system of the aforementioned character which is equally applicable to any of a variety of voltage control apparatus for the lamp circuits.

Another object is to provide a system which may employ resistor or reactor type potentiometers for the pilot or sender circuits.

Another object is to provide a system including individual circuit and master controls whereby transition of the intensity of illumination of -angindividual circuit from one preset valueto another upon transfer from one master circuit to another is effected gradually and continuously.

. Another object is to provide a system wherein the aforestated transition may be made at different selected rates for diiferent lamp circuits.

Another object is to provide a remote control system of the vaforementioned nature in which a control current between the sender and receiver flows only during changes of the illumination intensity.

Another object' is to provide an illumination control system including a plurality of preset master controllers combined withl a single selector and individual intensity. control means.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

An illumination control system of the aforementioned character generally comprises a number oi individual lamp circuits, each controllable 40 selectively by a plurality of presettable pilot control devices such as rheostats or the like. 'Ihe pilot rheostats may be operated either directly to control the brilliancy of the individual lamp 'circuits or they may be in turn under the control of a plurality of presettable master control rheostats which may be operated selectively to provide for joint control of a selected group of lamp circuits at proportionally varying intensities whereby ,the ratios of the intensities of the various lamp groups are determined by the setting of the individual pilot rheostats.`

The accompanying drawing is a diagram of a system incorporating thelpresent invention.

The system comprises two. groups of lamps I and 2, respectively. l Energy is supplied to the (Cl. F15-312) lamps and to the control circuits from the alternating current bus bars L1 and L. The current for the lamps I is supplied through an autotransformer dimmer 3 which has its primary winding connected across the lines L1, L2 and 5 which is provided with a sliding contact 4 by means of which a variable secondary voltage of l the transformer may be impressed on the lamps. The brush 4 connects the various taps of the transformer winding with a 'contact bar 5 to l0 which one terminal of the lamp circuit is connected, while the other terminal of the lamp circuit is connected to the line L. The brush 'l may be moved along the transformer taps and bar 5 by a screw 6 which is driven by a'motor l5 l, provided with reversing windings, and which motor is controlled by a relay B.

, The relay comprises a lever 8*, pivoted at its center and provided at each end with a magnet core 8b and is normally biased to a centerposition in any suitable manner. The cores are surrounded by polarizing coils 8 which are connected across vthe lines L1, L2 in such a manner that the' polarity of both cores is in the same direction. A second set'aof coils 81 is arranged on the cores 8b but wound in opposite direction relative to each other so that a y,current flowing therein unbalances the pull on the two cores to cause rotation of the armature in :one or the other direction, depending upon the direction of the current in the coils 811. The lever 81 is provided with a contact arm 8 which when the lever rotates makes contact with stationary contacts 81 and 8l, respectively, to thereby energize one or the other of the reversing windings of the motor 1 and cause the latter to rotate in a corresponding direction.

The circuit arrangement for the lamps 2 and any other additional like circuits is the same as that thus far described for the lamps l 40 The system further includes two fader control units I I and I2, the unit II comprising two potentiometer rheostats or auto-transformers I Il and IIb each connected across the lines Ligand i L2 and provided with sliding contacts or brushes iI and II1, respectively. The two brushes II and Ild are connected with each other mechanically to move simultaneously in opposite' directions relative to the lines L1 andL; that is, when one of the brushes moves, for instance, in the direction from line L1 to line Lz the other brush moves lin the reverse direction. 'I'he fader I2 has two similar potentiometers I2* and i211 Y provided with brushes I 2c and |211, respectively. ,They are connected and are operable-in a man- 55 ner similar tg that described for the fader unit I I.

'There areprovlded four master potentiometers or auto-transformers |3n and I3b and I4* and |4b respectively, which are connected between the line L1 and the terminals lid, I2, and I2d respectively. Potentiometers I3* and |311 are provided with sliding contacts I3c and I3, respectively, and potentiometers I4` and I4b are provided with similar sliding contacts I4e and I4, respectively. I

Each lamp circuit is provided for each scene with two variable rheostats I5, Iiib and' I6, |611, respectively. One terminal of each of said rheostats is connected to lineLl, while the other terminal of each is connected to the brushes I3, i3d, |4 and Md, respectively. Sliding contacts |13c and llic which may be moved to various points of the respective rheostats cooperate with the rheostats I5, l5b and I6, IED, respectively. The primary winding of a transformer |1 is connected between line Ll and brush I5c and the primary winding of a transformer i8 is similarly connected between line L1 and brush ISC. The secondary windings of the transformers I1 and i8 are connected in series with each other and with the coils 811 in a circuit between the line L1 and a bus bar I9. A potentiometer rheostat 20 is connected -across the lines L1 and L2 and is provided with a sliding contact 20h which completes a circuit between a variable point of the rheostat 20 and the bus bar I9. The contact 201 is driven synchronously with the Contact 4 and thus the variable voltage impressed by the potentiometer 20e upon the circuit containing the transformers l1 and i8 and the coils 81 is a measure of the lamp voltage and brilliancy. The connection is such that the potentiometer voltage is equal and opposite to the transformer voltage when ythe lamp voltage is equal to the desired amount determined by the setting of the controller. flows through the coils 8d; while the current therethrough when flowing is in one or the other direction relative to the current in coils 8", de-

pending upon whether the lamp voltage is lower or higher than the desired voltage.

Scene presetting controllers similar to tha aforedescrlbed for lamp circuit I are provided for lamp circuit 2 as shown in the drawing and may obviously be provided for any additional number of lamp circuits desired.

With the system connected and the, various control velements adjusted as shown in the drawing, the brush|| of potentiometer II* has the potential of line L2, the brush Il*1 of potentiometer I Ib has the potential of line L1, the brush I2 of potentiometer I2n has the potential of line L1, and the brush |21 of potentiometer I2b has the potential of line U. As a result no voltage is impressed on either of potentiometers I3* or |31. and full line voltage is impressed on both of the potentiometers I4 and |41. Therefore no' voltage is impressed on potentiometers I5* and I5, but a fraction of the line voltage is impressed on both `potentiometers I8 and IBD, the voltage oi' each depending upon the position of the brushes I4c and |411, respectively. The primary winding of transformer I1 therefore has no voltage impressed on it, while a voltage is impressed on the primary winding of transformer |8, this voltage being a fraction of the voltage of the total voltage Q impressed on the potentiometer |46, and depends upon the adjustment of the brush |8. The corresponding secondary voltage of transformer I8 is opposed by the voltage of potentiometer 20* and if a diierence exists, the resulting current 1n In this case no current from scene 2 to scene I, the brushes l3 and i3c1 of scene potentiometers lila and I3b and the brush |511 and the corresponding brushes for the .other groups of lamps are set to the desired point and at the proper moment the fader potentiometers II and/or l2 are moved at the desired rate from the positions thereof shown to their other extreme positions, respectively. 'This gradually impresses line potential on potentiometers I3El and I3b and short circuits potentiometers I4a and |411, so that the various lamp group intensities vary gradually from one value to the new preset value. By operating the brushes IIC, |Id and I2C, |211 oi potentiometers li and i2, respectively, at different rates and moving the various brushes I5c and |60 in the upper or lower scene lamp potentiometers oi' the respective pairs to the proper points, it is possible to simultaneously provide for two fading rates for different selected lamp groups.

As no current flows in the circuit between the lamp rheostats and the receiver relay 8 when the desired illumination intensity has been attained, the circuits may then be opened, or alternatively, as there is a certain inertia in the motor and thus a time lag of response, it is possible after attainment of the desired illumination intensity to quickly move the brushes I5c and/or IE5c from their respective positions on one of the respective pairsof lamp potentiometers to points of equal potential on the other potentiometers of such pairs without a resulting flicker or change in i1- lumination intensity of the lamps'. This is of value if it is desired after enactment of a scene to transfer a lamp circuit for control from the quick acting :lader to the slow acting fader and vice versa.

It is obvious that the system may be arranged for more than two master faders and also for a greater number of scene master and group controllers to permit the presettlng of a greater number of scenes. Other modiiications within the scope of the present invention will suggest themselves readily to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. kA control system comprising, a circuit to be controlled, means for preset-ting a plurality of operating values for an electricaly condition of said circuit, comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said secondary windings being connected in series vrelation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative voltage regulators for each of said primary windings, each voltage regulator aifording a variable ratio between its input and its output voltages, selectivey means to impress the output voltage ol' one of said regulators upon the respective primary winding, and means for increasing the input voltage of one and simultaneously decreasing the input voltage of another of said voltage regulators selectively.

' 2. A control system comprising a circuit to'be controlled, means for presetting a pluralityof operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit, comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary 'ande secondary. windings, said secondary windings being connected formers having primary and secondary windings, said secondary windings being connected in sey ries relation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative potentiometers for each of said primary windings, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said potentiometers and `to impress it upon the respective primary winding, and a plurality of fader potentiometers each arranged vto supply a variable voltage to one of said first plurality of potentiometers and to increase the input voltage of one and to simultaneously decrease the input voltage of another thereof.

4. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an .electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said -secondary windings being connected in series relation ,to each other, a plurality of selectively operative voltage regulators foreach of said primary windings, each voltage regulator affording a variable ratio between its input and voutput voltages, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said regulators and to impress it upon the respective primary winding, and a second plurality of voltage regulators, one for. each one of said first plurality of regulators andalso affording a variable ratio of their input and out-y put voltages and adapted to cooperate with said first plurality of regulators to impress their respective output voltages thereon.

5.. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means vfor presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit, comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said secondary windings being connected in series relation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative potentiometers for each of said primary windings, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said potentiometers and to impress it upon the respective primary winding, and a second plurality of variable potentiometers, one for each of said first plurality of potentiometers and adapted to cooperate therewith and to impress their respective output voltages thereon.

6. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled,v means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical conditionv of said circuit comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said secondary windings being connected in series relation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative voltage regulators for each of said primary windings, each voltage regulator affording a variable ratio between its input and its output voltages, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said regulators and to impress it upon the respective primary winding, a second plurality of voltage regulators, one for each one of said first plurality of regulators and adapted to cooperate therewith and to impress a variable output voltage thereon, and means for increasing the input voltage of one and simultaneously decreasing the input voltage of another of said second plurality of voltage regulators selectively.

, '1. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said lation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative potentiometers for each of said primary windi/ngs, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said potentiometers and to impress it upon the respective primary winding, a second plurality of variable potentiometers, one for each of said iirst plurality of potentiometers and adapted to cooperate therewith and to impress their respective output voltages thereon, and means for increasing the'input voltage of one and simultaneously decreasing the input voltage' of another of said second plurality of potentiometers-` 8. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of transformers having primary and secondary windings, said secondary windings being connected in series relation to each other, a plurality of selectively operative potentiometers for each of said primary windings, selective means to vary the output voltage of one of said potentiometers and to impress it upon the respective primary winding, a second plurality of variable potentiometers, one for each of said first plurality of potenti- `ometers and adapted to cooperate therewith and to impress their respective output voltages thereon, and a plurality of fader potentiometers, each arranged to supply a variable voltage to one of saidsecond plurality of potentiometers and to increase the input voltage of one and simultaneously decrease the input voltage of another of said second plurality of potentiometers.

9. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of .secondary windings being connected in series reoperating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of voltage regulators, common means for selecting one of said voltage regulators and for varying its output voltage and impressing it upon said circuit, and a second plurality of voltage regulators, each of the latter being coordinated with one of each of said rst plurality of regulators and= also affording a variable ratio of their input and output voltages and adapted to cooperate with saidiirst plurality of regulators tov impress their respective output voltages upon the respectively corresponding regulators of said ilrst'plurality of regulators.

. 10. A control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of potentiometers, common means for selecting one of said potentiometers and for varying its output voltage and impressing it upon said circuit, and a second plurality of variable potentiometers, each of the latter being coordinated with one of each of said first plurality of potentiometers and adapted to impress their variable output' voltages upon the Arespective potentiometers of said first plurality.

11. In an illumination control system affording individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, a transformer for each of said scenes, saidtransformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said-several secondary windings for each lamp group being connected in series relation to each other, a scene group voltage regulator for each of the several prim'ary windings affording a variable ratio between its input voltage and its output voltage and being adapted to impress the latter upon said primary winding, and a scene master voltage regulator for each of said scenes coordinated with the several respective scene group voltage regulators to impress a variable voltage upon the latter.

12. In an illumination control system affording individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups cf lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, a transformer for each of said scenes, said transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, said several secondary windings for each lamp group being connected in series relation to each other, a scene group voltage regulator for each of the several primary windings affording a variable ratio between its input voltage and its output voltage and being adapted to impress the latter upon the respective primary winding, a scene master voltage regulator for each of said scenes coordinated with the several respective scene group voltage regulators to impress a variable voltage upon the latter, and means for increasing the voltage impressedupon one and simultaneously decreasing the voltage impressed upon another of said master voltage regulators selectively.

13. In an illumination control system` affording individual and joint control of the intensity of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enact-V ment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps individual intensity control means, a plurality of selectively operative voltage regulators affording a variable ratio between their respective input and output voltages, common means to select one of said regulators and to vary its output voltage and impress it upon said intensity control means, and a second plurality of voltage regulatorsfeach of the latter being coordinated with one of each nf said first plurality of regulators and also affording a variable ratio of their input and output voltages and adapted to cooperate with said rst plurality of regulators to impress their respective output voltages thereon.

14. An illumination control system affording individual and joint control of the intensities of ,a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes of illumination, comprising for each group of lamps, individual intensity control means, a plurality of potentiometers, common means for selecting one of said potentiometers and for varying its output voltage and impressing it upon said intensity control means, and a second plurality of variable potentiometers, each of the latter being coordinated with one of each of said first plurality of potentiometers and adapted to impress their variable output voltages upon the respective potentiometers of said first plurality.

15. An illumination control system adapted to provide for individual and/or joint control of the intensities of illumination of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes sequentially, comprising intensity control means individual to each group of lamps, each of said control means comprising a plurality of pairs of potentiometers, means common to each pair of potentiometers for presetting one of the same for preselecting the output voltage thereof when rendered active whereby said output voltage is impressed upon said intensity control means, a second plurality of pairs of potentiometers, means individual to each potentiometer of said last mentioned pairs for preselecting the respective output voltages thereof, said last mentioned pair of potentiometers being electrically connected with the first mentioned pairs of potentiometers to provide for impressing the respective output voltages of the former, when rendered active, upon the latter, a plurality of pairs of fader potentiometers, each pair of fader potentiometers having a pair of jointly movable contactors associated therewith, each pair of contactors in one extreme position thereof being respectively adapted to render active and inactive one potentiometer of each of said second mentioned pairs, vthereby tending to render active or inactive the corresponding potentiometers of said pairs first mentioned to provide -for enactment of an illumination effect of said groups of lamps jointly for a given scene, and each pairof contactors in the other extreme position thereof providing for a reversal of the conditions last mentioned.

16. An illumination control system adapted to provide for yindividual and/or joint control of the intensities of illumination of a plurality of groups of lamps for the enactment of a plurality of scenes sequentially, comprising intensity control means individual to each group of lamps, each of said control means comprising a plurality of pairs of potentiometers, means common to each pair of potentiometers for presetting one of the same preselecting the output voltage thereof when rendered active whereby said output voltage is impressed upon said intensity control means, a second plurality of pairs of potentiometers, means individual to each potentiometer of said second mentioned pairs for preselecting the respective output voltages thereof, Ksaid second mentioned pairs of potentiometers being electrically connected with the first mentioned pairs of potentiometers to provide forn impressing the respective output voltages of the former, when rendered active, upon the latter, a plurality of pairs of fader potentiometers, each pair of fader potentiometers having a 'pair of jointly movable contactors associated therewith, each pair of contactors in' one vextreme position thereof being respectively adapted to render active and inactive one potentiometer of each of said second mentioned pairs, thereby tending to render active or inactive the corresponding potentiometers of said pairs first mentioned to provide for enactment of an illumination effect of said groups of lamps jointly for a given scene, each pair of contactors in the other extreme position thereof providing for `a reversal of the conditions last mentioned, said pairs of contactors being normally movable simultaneously in a like direction, and the same being lalternatively movable independently of each other at different rates.

17. A control system comprising, a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit, comprising, a plurality of fixed ratio transformers having primary and secondary ed in series relation to each other, an individual voltage regulator for each of said primary windings and affording a variable ratio between its input and its output voltage, and means. for infcreasing the input voltage of one and simultaneously decreasing the input voltage of another of said voltage regulators.

18. An illumination control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values for an electrical condition of said circuit comprising, a plurality of pairs ot voltage regulators, common means for selecting one voltage regulator of each of said pairs J,and for varying its output voltage and impressing it upon said circuit, and a second plurality of pairs of voltage regulators, the respective regulators of said last mentioned pairs being individually coordinated with the regulators of said first plurality of pairs and also affording a variable ratio of their input and output voltages and adapted to cooperate with the selected regulators of said iirst plurality of pairs of regulators to impress theirrespective output voltages upon the respectively corresponding regulators of said flrst'plur-ality of pairs.

19. An illumination control system comprising a circuit to be controlled, means for presetting a plurality of operating values ioran electrical condition oi said circuit comprising, a plurality of pairs of potentiometers, commonmeans i'or selecting one potentiometer of each of said pairs and for varying its output voltage and impressing it upon said circuit, and a second plurality of pairs of potentiometers, the respective potentiometers of said last mentioned pairs being individually coordinated with the potentiometers of said rst plurality of pairsl and respectively adapted to impress their variable output voltages upon the selected potentiometers of said iirst plurality of pairs.

RICHARD B. HUNTER. 

